Suction forming paper machine operation



Jan. 8, 1963 J. E. GOODWILLIE SUCTION FORMING PAPER MACHINE OPERATION Filed Dec. 24, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8, 1963 J. E. GOODWILLIE SUCTION FORMING PAPER MACHINE OPERATION .e 5 2 m M f M r a \s E G h I m %M E a (.m a a 4% I m I r 5 W, mm 2 w, 1 I 4 1m 4 M Q B Q mm m Q m N -m 7Q Jan. 8, 1963 J. E. GOODWILLIE SUCTION FORMING PAPER MACHINE OPERATION Filed Dec. 24, 95a

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 John E. Gaoom'llje Jan. 8, 1963 J. E. GOODWILLIE 3,072,181

SUCTION FORMING PAPER MACHINE OPERATION Filed Dec. 24, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Egk he. 22hr (jam? 5. GooawL/lle Jan. 8, 1963 J. E. GOODWILLIE 3,072,181-

SUCTION FORMING PAPER MACHINE OPERATION Fi ledDec. 24, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 .IflC "E John E. COMM/Lille Jan. 8, 1963 J. E GOODWILLIE SUCTION FORMING PAPER MACHINE OPERATION 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 24, 1958 Z 1 j I 67.12 ;/0

2 l/(Dgz ZZZ WWI 5% H Mw u q u 9 H x \k/Ufj m w Z Jan, 8, 1963 J. E. GOODWILLIE 3,072,181

SUCTION FORMING PAPER MACHINE OPERATION Filed Dec. 24, 1958 '7 SheetsSheet '7 Ina 5211217? John E. Goodunillje b alaa;

United rates atent Ofilice aararsr Patented Jan. 3, 1963 3,072,181 SUCTXON FQRMING PAPER MAQHENE @IPERATIUN John E. Goodwiiiie, Beloit, Wis., assignor to Eelott iron Works, it, -Wis a corporation of Wisconsin Fitted Dec. 214, i953, Ser. No. 782,818 35 Claims. (Cl. 162-35ti) This invention relates to improvements in the paper forming operation in paper machines, and more particularly, to an improved suction forming method and apparatus.

In a stock inlet for a paper machine, the slice outlet should flow paper stock onto the forming surface of the machine in sheet-like form having even thickness or volume across the width of the surface and advancing at a controlled rate of speed. Dewatering of the stock on the forming surface takes place throughout substantially the entire length of travel of the forming surface, although the dewatering action is most prominent in the region of the breast roll where the dilute stock is first flowed onto the forming surface. The advancing sheet of stock shouid be free from cross or eddy currents and have true directional flow relationship with the travel of the forming surface to insure equal stock velocity and distribution at every part of the surface.

Since the head pressure on paper stock fed through a slice in high speed machines is quite substantial, the problem of designing a suitable slice arrangement is essentialiy hydr .lllC in character, as is the problem of design ing an initial or preliminary forming section, although other factors may be involved to some degree in the projection of the desired sheet of stock onto the wire across the initial forming zone.

In addition, any devices which might be used to coope ate with the stock sheet and/or the forming surface or wire in this preliminary forming zone must cooperate so as to avoid excessive wear and tear on the wire itself and also to avoid the creation of additional eddy currents and the like.

The instant invention is characterized by the discovery of a method and means for greatly accelerating the initial dewatering of the stock (or subsequent dewatering of the stock in modifications of this discovery) so as to greatly assist in the control of the stock flow on the forming wire, by the use of a suction area on the underside of the wire so constructed as to avoid dragging contact of the wire therewith.

it is, therefore, an important object of the instant invention to provide an improved suction forming paper machine operation, and a method and apparatus therefor.

it is a further object of the instant invention to provide an arrangement in a web forming machine that comprises a breast roll, a traveling forming wire trained about said breast roll, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, and means cooperating wlth said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved method of forming paper webs, which comprises delivering a horizontally flowing stream of dilute stock onto a forming wire and immediately thereafter deflecting the stream downwardly and subjecting the underside of the downwardly deflected stream to subatrnospheric pressure to draw Water therefrom through the wire.

Still a further object of the instant invention is to provide an improved structure whereby deflector means ordinarily operating in close running relation to the bottom of the wire may be used in conjunction with sealing means to effect a suction area on the underside of the wire adjacent the breast roll, or adjacent a table roll supporting the forming wire, so as to effect greatly accelerated dewatering of the stock sheet passing over such suction area without the necessity of dragging the forming wire over a suction box, for example.

As another aspect of the invention, heretofore, difficulty has been experienced with paper forming machines in delivering a stock and water flow from a slice or distributor arran ement without the presence of certain cross or eddy currents which are powerful enough to cause unevenness and/ or streaked conditions in finished paper. Especially, such defective formation in the paper is noticeable in lightweight free sheets, such as facial and toilet tissues causing areas of extremely low strength, one directional strength sheets, and unevenly formed sheets. Moreover, in prior paper forming machines, it has been difficult to handle varying percentages of Water associated with the stock as it is discharged from the slice, depending upon the prevailing paper making requirements. V

in the formation of free sheets of tissue, experience indicates a pronounced tendency toward formation of streaks in the finished sheet if the water remains with the fibers for more than a few inches of travel after leaving the slice. Thus, one of the problems recognized in the formation of tissue paper was to find a way of removing the free water from the stock as rapidly as possible after it left the slice.

in the present invention, the above mentioned difficulties have been overcome, wherein a forming method and apparatus are provided that greatly accelerate the initial dewatering of the stock and the forming of a sheet so as to greatly assist in the control of the stock how on the forming surface and the elimination of undesirable forming characteristics. in accomplishing the above, a foraminous breast roll is provided having a Fourdrinier wire trained thereover. At the underside of the Fourdrinier wire and a short distance downstream from the point that the wire leaves the breast roll, a deflector is positioned for the purpose of aiding in the creation of a pressure differential across the breast roll and that portion of the forming wire upstream from the deflector.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved suction forming paper machine operation, and a method and apparatus therefor.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus that is capable of producing a formed lightweight sheet free from streaked conditions and unevenness in thickness.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a paper forming machine arrangement that is capable of handling varying percentages of water associated with stock and is capable of accelerating the dewatering of stock and the formation of sheets on a forming surface.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of an improved paper forming machine including an open breast roll having a moving forming wire trained thereover, wherein all of the free water is removed from the stock flow within a few inches after it has left the slice.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a paper forming machine including an open breast roll having a forming wire trained thereover, whereby deflector means operate in closely spaced relation to the underside of the wire a short distance downstream from the point at which the forming wire leaves the breast roll to effect a pressure differential area across the breast roll and the forming wire, so as to effect greatly accelerated dewatering of the stock sheet passing over the pressure differential area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of forming paper webs, which comprises delivering a flowing stream of dilute stock onto an open breast roll having a forming wire trained thereover and subjecting the open breast roll and forming wire to a pressure differential to remove the free water from the stock.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a paper forming apparatus that will permit substantial increases of operational speeds in paper forming machines while improving the quality of paper formed.

Another object of this invention is in the provision of a paper forming machine including an open breast roll having a forming wire trained thereover a deflector positioned at the underside of the wire slightly downstream from the point where the wire leaves the breast roll, wherein the breast roll and the portion of the wire ahead of the deflector is subjected to a suction to assist in dewatering and forming of the paper web.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a paper forming machine including an open breast roll having a forming wire trained 'thereover and a deflector at the underside of the wire and slightly downstream from the point at which the wire leaves the breast roll, wherein the upper side of the wire and the breast roll is subjected to a positive pressure to assist in removing the free water from the stock and in forming the paper sheet before the sheet has passed the deflector.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed disclosure thereof and the drawings attached hereto and made a part hereof, showing preferred embodiments of the instant invention.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are side elevational fragmentary views, with parts shown in section and parts shown diagrammatically, showing the relative positions of certain elements in the device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 during three phases of machine startup;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of still a third embodiment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view of a fourth embodiment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view of a fifth embodiment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the present invention; 1

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic view of yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic view of yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic view of still a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, partly diagrammatic, of a side sealing arrangement employed with all of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGURES l016 for minimizing air leakage along the edges of the forming wire.

As shown on the drawings:

As shown in FIGURES 1-5, inclusive, the reference numeral It indicates generally the suction forming paper machine arrangement embodying the instant invention, wherein there are positioned a breast roll it, a table roll 12, a forming wire W trained about the breast roll .11 and over the tops of the breast roll Ill and the table roll 12, normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet 13 discharging onto the wire W as it passes over the top of the breast roll 11, and means cooperating with the breast roll 11 to define a suction area A on the underside of the wire W extending behind the breast roll it for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire W. Such means include deflector means 14 in close running position beneath the wire W and behind the stock inlet 13 and sealing means 15 cooperating with the deflector means 14 and the breast roll 11 to define the suction area A immediately behind the breast roll 11. (The head box 13 is considered the front herein and the suction area A being on the side of the breast roll 11 away from the head box 13 is thus behind the breast roll 11.)

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, which show in detail the operation of the deflector means 14, it will be seen from FIGURE 3 that the usual (i.e. unaffected by the suction area A) operation of the traveling forming wire W calls for substantially horizontal travel over the tops of the breast roll 11 and the table roll 12; and the stock S is delivered from the stock inlet 13 (over the apron board 16 and beneath the slice 17 through the opening 18), in the general direction of the dotted line arrows, which is a generally horizontal direction once the stock is discharged onto the wire W. In normal operation, the water loss through the wire W will result in a continuous reduction in the height of the stock S flowing over the wire W, as indicated in FIGURE 3 by line S.

In the instant invention, however, immediately after the stock stream S has been delivered onto the forming wire W the stream is deflected downwardly and subjected to vacuum on the underside thereof to accelerate the dewatering thereof. This operation is accomplished by a series of steps shown more or less diagrammatically in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the deflection means 1 comprise two relatively movable deflector members 19 and it one of which members 26 is movable selectively in and out of close running relation to the underside of the wire W. The other member 19 is positioned for close running relationship to the underside of the wire W when the wire W is deflected downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 5. Actually, both members 19 and 2t? are deflectors as used in paper machinery, but in the particular arrangement the members 19 and 20 have a unique cooperation. I

The movable member 2h consists in a starting doctor which has a rounded top edge Zita that is supported by an upstanding cross beam Ztib having a rounded bottom edge Ztlc which sits in a continuous V 21 formed on the main body of the deflector means 14. An angle frame Zhd is suitably aflixed to the back of the cross beam 20b for supporting the same and for providing an attachment for effecting swinging movement of the starting doctor 29, which is pivotally movable about the rounded bottom edge Zita thereof. The starting doctor 29 is thus capable of swinging movement in a counterclockwise direction from its maximum height (as shown in FIGURE 3) to an intermediate height with respect to the deflector member 19 (as shown in FIGURE 4) and finally to a minimum height below the level of the deflector member 119 (as shown in FIGURE 5).

In the operation of the instant device, the stock S is initially discharged onto the Wire W and both the wire W and the stock S flow in a substantially horizontal direction, as shown in FIGURE 3. Next, a vacuum is applied beneath the wire W in the region A. A solid breast roll 11, cooperating with side sealing means (which will be described subsequently) provides vacuum sealing means for the forward edge of the vacuum area A as well as the side edges thereof. The starting doctor it? is then swung upwardly to approximately the position shown in FIGURE 3, so that the top rounded edge 262a comes atleast into close running relationship with the wire W (and being a rounded edge which does not provide undue frictional engagement with the wire W actual contact be;

5 tween the rounded edge 20a and the wire W may be made). This movement of the starting doctor to the maximum height position of FIGURE 3 results in the ef fective formation of a vacuum area extending from the top portion of the breast roll 13. back to the rounded edge 2% of the doctor iii. The resulting vacuum beneath the wire W tends to urge the wire downwardly against the rounded doctor edge Zita, which in turn is swung downwardly to the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 4. Because of the pressure differential across the wire W created by the suction area A the wire W tends to follow the downward movement of the rounded doctor edge Zita and the wire W is deflected downwardly accordingly between the breast roll 11 and the table roll The extent to which the wire W will be deflected can, of course, be determined, and it is dependent upon the tension on the wire W, the extent of vacuum at the area A, and such other factors as the stock consistency and the level of the stock about the wire W. In general, the precise amount of deflection for a given stock flow can be controlled by controlling or coordinating the vacuum force V (which depends upon the pressure differential across the wire W as well as the total area of the suction area A) and the tension force T on the wire W. By controlling these factors it is possible to operate the instant device obtaining a specific and definite amount of deflection in the wire W. The starting doctor 24) is employed for the purpose of moving the rounded edge Ziia up to the wire W to initiate the formation of the suction area A and then the doctor 2% is swung downwardly until the wire W has reached such predetermined deflection as is previously indicated. At this predetermined deflection the other deflector means 19 is positioned so as to operate in close running relationship with the underside of the wire W.

The member includes a sharp edged deflector blade 15:: which has its top sharp edge positioned for close running relationship with the underside of the wire W as shown in FEGURE 5 (when the final predetermined deflection in the wire W has been obtained). The deflector bar 19:; is suitably mounted on a deflector beam 1% which is supported by a deflector bracket 1.9a. Gnce the top doctor edge 2dr: has been moved downwardly (with the wire W following) to the point that the underside of the wire W is in close running relationship with the top deflector edge 19a, the top deflector edge 1% eftests a suitable vacuum seal with the wire and the vacuum area A (of FEGURE 5) is reduced in size, so as to extend from the top of the breast roll 11 to the top edge of the deflector blade 1%.

As shown best in FIGURE 2, the deflector members it? and are both mounted on a top edge of a hollow rectangular beam member 22. The starting doctor 2% is mounted for pivotal movement about the center P; and the entire deflector means 14 is also mounted for pivotal movement about the pivot point P. Pivotal movement about the pivot point P is controlled by a suitable journal assembly including journal mountings at opposite ends of the beam 22., such as the journal mounting 23 of FIG- URE l, which cooperate with stub shafts 24 suitably mounted at opposite ends of the beam 22 and effectively permit or prevent pivotal movement of the deflector assembly 14 by clampingly engaging the stub shafts 2 in the manner well known to those skilled in the art so that further description of the journal assemblies 23 is not necessary. "She principal purpose of the journal assemblies 23 is that of permitting movement of the deflector edge 1% to properly position the same with respect to a given predetermined deflection which is to be obtained in the wire W during operation. In the ordinary operation, there is no need to repeatedly move the deflector edge 19a and the entire assembly is ordinarily held against rotation or pivotal movement by the journal members 23.

On the other hand, the starting doctor 26 must be 6 moved at the startup of each operation, and the means for moving the starting doctor about the pivot point P are designed accordingly. Such means include a pivotal connection 25 affixed to the back brace 23d of the doctor and connected through the pivot arm 26 and the pivot pin 27 mounted thereon to the turnbuckle 23, which in turn is connected by means of the pivot pin 29 to an operating arm 39. The operating arm fit? is pivotally connected through the pin 31 to a base support 32 secured to a suitable foundation, such as the floor F. As will be seen from the dotted line showing of the turnbuckle 28' and operating on F i) (wherein the operating members are indicated in each case by primed reference numerals) the operating arm 3% may be moved through a relatively large arc in order to effect comparatively slight arcuate movement of the rounded doctor edge Ztla (from he position in FIGURE 3 to the position in FIGURE 5) so that extremely accurate control of the movement of the rounded doctor 262: may be obtained. When the instant device is first started the operating arm 39 is in the normal substantially vertical position. The operating arm is then moved arcuately to the right (as indicated in FEGURE 1) in order to move the rounded doctor edge Zita upwardly into contact. with the underside of the wire W. After suction has been applied behind the breast roll it, then the operating arm-3h is moved slowly to the left until it finaly returns to the vertical position, and the corresponding downward movement of the rounded doctor edge 2hr: results in deflection of the wire W until the same reaches close running relationship with the deflector edge 1%.

Referring now to certain of the other details of FIG- URES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the wire W travels over the turning roll 33, under the turning roll then upwardly and around the breast roll it and back over the top of the table roll Tie rolls 3d, 11 and 12 are suitably mounted for rotation in bearing assemblies 35, at, 3'7 and 33, respectively. The turning roll bearing assemblies 35 and as are suitabiy mounted on the floor F; whereas the bearing E3531 lblics 3'7, 38 are suitably mounted on a supportin frame or side wall for the instant device it), indicated generally by the reference numeral 71th:. The assembly is supported by pedestal members 39, 4t and ii which support the front, middle and rear of the assembly Iiti, respectively. The pedestal members 3%, 46 and 41 are suitably affixed to the assembly side walls li a by means of bolt and flange joints, as at 42 and 4-3, in the manner well understood in the art.

As will be appreciated, the side walls 16a of the assembly 1t) cooperate with the breast roll and the deflector means 14 to define the side or lateral boundaries of the suction area A, and the side walls the serve to house many of the primary functioning elements of the instant assembly. In describing the low pressure or suction zone within the entire assembly, it is most convenient to trace the boundaries thereof, for example, in FIGURE 2, by starting with the deflector blade member 19a, which operates in close running relationship with the wire W so as to effect a substantial seal thereoetween. The deflector blade 1% also extends the full width of the wire W so as to cooperate with the side walls Eda, Na of the assembly to effect sealing engagement therewith. As will be appreciated, such sealing engagement is accomplished, for example, by the use of packing or similar resilient material (not shown) which may be mounted on either the side wall 1dr: or the deflector blade 1% immediately thereadjacent so as to effect sealing engagement therebetween while permitting relative movement therebetween (to the extent that the entire deflector assembly ltd might be moved). Comparable sealing engagement between the side walls itda and the starting doctor fit? is also obtained in the manner well known to the art.

Referring again to PE'GURE 2, the deflector blade 11%;; is suitably mounted on the supporting member 1% and 19c so as to effect sealing engagement therebetween and these members in turn are mounted on the hollow beam 22 so that a continuous sealing wall is defined by the front side 22:: and the bottom side 2212 of the beam 22. At the rear end of the bottom side 22b there is suitably aflixed to the hollow beam 22 a sealing strip 44 of suitably flexible material to permit the hereinbefore indicated swinging movement of the deflector means 14. The sealing strip 44 is sealingly aflixed to the hollow beam 22. and also to a fixed support beam 4-5 which extends between the side walls ltia, lilo.

A short partition wall 46 eifectively connects the cross beam 45 with the vacuum box 47. The vacuum box 4'7 is a relatively large cylindrical chamber which extends between the side walls llla, Mia and is supported thereby and which is suitably connected to a vacuum pump or other device for evacuating air (such devices being well known in the art); and the maintenance of a reduced pressure in the relatively lar e vacuum box effectively permits the withdrawal of water therethrough and also various fluctuations in the sealing assemblies without disrupting the operation or causing a total loss of the Vacuum. Preferably, also elongated fins, one of which is shown at 43 extend longitudinally of the wire W within the vacuum zone of the instant assembly from substantially below the suction area A to at least partially into the vacuum box 47 to avoid loss of control of air and water flowing through the assembly. The assembly bottom lfib extends from the bottom of the vacuum box 47 forwardly again to a packing gland d? suitably mounting a packing strip 50 for sealingly engaging the rotating breast roll 11.

Also an arcuately disposed packing strip 51 is mounted in each of the side walls Iltla, ltla immediately adjacent to the periphery of the breast roll 11, so as to extend from the top of the breast roll 11 at 51a to the bottom of the breast roll, at 51b, beyond the packing strip 54 The peripheral packing strips 51 cooperate with the rotating breast roll 11 so as to effectively create a seal from the lower packing strip Stl upwardly to shortly ahead of the slice gate 18. A suitable deflector or scraper bar 52 (FIGURE 2) is held in close running relationship to the rotating breast roll 11 just above the packing strip 50 so as to effectively remove particles of paper fiber, etc., as well as the bulk of the water which may tend to adhere to the breast roll surface prior to the packing strip for the purpose of protecting the packing strip 5%. The bar 52 is suitably. mounted on the beam member 53 which engages a circularly crossscctioned mounting member $4 that extends between the side walls lllla, lltla. A brace 55' is suitably bolted to the side walls and mounts the member 54.

The side sealing means immediately behind the slice gate 18 are mounted on opposite sides of the top edges 16c of the frame. The sealing means 15 comprise resilient elongated sealing strips 56 of suitably flexible and friction resistant material which may be urged against the extreme edges of the top side of the traveling wire W. Each strip 56 extends from beside the slice gate 13 rearwardly over the top of the extreme edge portion of the wire W until it is substantially over the deflector means 14. Actually, the strip 56 need extend only as far forward as the position of the rounded doctor edge when it is in raised position. The sealing strip 56 cooperates with the top edge We of the side wall for sealing engagement therewith. Mounted directly above the sealing strip 56 in the top portion lbs of the wall and forming a part of the sealing means 15 are a plurality of support pins or spools 57, each of which is wrapped with a resilient strip 53 extending downwardly into engagement with the sealing strip 56. The resilient strips 58 are preferably made of a suitable elastomeric material such as rubber and these resilient members 53 individually urge the portion of the sealing strip 56 in contact therewith upwardly to decrease the contact pressure between the strip se and the wire W which are both downwardly deflected by the operation of the suction area A. The contact pressure of the strip 56 on the wire edges may be decreased by winding up the resilient members 58 on the spools 57 or may be increased by unwinding the spools to allow the strips 5-6 less overhead support. In this manner, the sealing strip 56 is retained in constant sealing engagement with the top edge of the wire W at a predetermined contact pressure during movement thereof in and out of deflection.

in completing the assembly shown in FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the vacuum box 47 is suitably equipped with an end plate or head 59 bolted to the flanged edges of the box 47. Also, a plate 6% is suitably bolted to the side wall ltla at the approximate location of the resilient sealing strip 44, to facilitate access to the interior for cleanout purposes.

The instant invention provides certain particularly important advantages in that it permits the use of a suction area collecting upon the underside of the forming Wire to effectively dewater stock thereon, without dragging against the wire any structural elements. In contrast, certain suction boxes heretofore used (usually near the rear end of the machine) tend to draw the wire against the top portions thereof so as to involve engagement between the traveling wire and the stationary top portions of the suction boxes.

In other embodiments of the invention, shown in FIG- URES 6-9, inclusive, it will be seen that the basic principles described in connection with FIGURES 1-5, inelusive, of the instant invention may be applied to somewhat different structural arrangements. For example, retferring first to FIGURE 8, it will be seen that a forming wire 61 is trained over the tops of a breast roll 62, an open faced table roll 63 and a second table roll 64. The stock inlet 65 discharges onto the wire bit as the wire 61 passes over the top of the breast roll 62. A first deflector means 66 is positioned between the breast roll 62 and the open faced table roll 63, and a second deflector means 67 is positioned between the open faced table roll 63 and the second table roll 6 The save-all 68 located at the bottom of the assembly shown in FIG- URE 8 has an exhaust duct 69 connected thereto and is provided with a sealing engagement 76 (such as that described in connection with the elements tit) and Si of FIGURES 1 and 2) so as to effect sealing engagement between the save-all 68 and the breast roll 62. Also, a flexible sealing joint 71 (such as the flexible sealing strip 4 3 of FIGURE 2) provides a sealed connection between the save-all and the second deflector means 67 (each of the deflector means 66 and 67 having a structure such as that shown for the deflector element 14 of FEGURES l and 2). The open faced roll 63 has the structure of a dandy type table roll in the central portion thereof, but it is solid at either end thereof, the solid portions at the end being aligned with the outer edges of the web being formed on the wire 61. Top sealing means (not shown) which would have substantially the structure of the sealing assembly 15 extend from the head box 65' to approximately the location of the second deflector means 67 so as to effectively seal opposite sides of the traveling wire 61 over this region. Such sealing means will, of course, cooperate with the solid end portions of the open faced roll 63. Otherwise, the central portion of the open faced roll permits water to be drawn directly therethrough and into the save-all 63. The suction area in the arrangement of FIGURE 8 thus extends from the breast roll d2 to the second deflector means 67, so as to include therein the open faced roll 63. Actually, the first deflector means 66 need not be equipped with a starting doctor, such as the starting doctor 2% of FIGURE 2, because of the sealing arrangement here provided. The first deflector means 66 merely needs to be positioned beneath the wire 61 for close running relationship thereto during the application of vacuum over the entire suction area (which will cause deflection of the Wire 61 between the breast roll 62 and the table roll 63 as well as between the table roll 63 and the second table roll 6d). The use of a starting doctor such as the starting doctor 2t) of FIGURE 2 in the deflector means 67, whereat the suction area is terminated, is an important part of the structure, and such a starting doctor will function precisely as the starting doctor of FIGURE 2 functions. An important advantage of the structure of FIGURE 8 is that the open faced roll 63 is employed so as to reduce the overall deflection of the wire 61 and also to permit a substantially greater suction area acting upon the underside thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 both the breast roll Ill and the table roll I2 are preferably solid rolls; whereas in the structure of FIGURE 8 the breast roll 62 and the table roll 64- are preferably solid rolls, but the table roll employed within the suction area, which is the roll 63, is preferably an open faced roll so that dewatering of the web can take place during the passage of the wire d1 over the top of the roll 63. As previously indicated, it will be understood that the elements shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 8 are the equivalents of the elements shown in detail in FIGURES 1 and 2, in accordance with the instant disclosure relating to FIGURE 8; and this is also the case for the diagrammatic showings in FIGURES 6, 7 and 9.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, which shows a somewhat different stock flow arrangement, but otherwise shows elements designated by the primed reference numerals which are comparable to corresponding elements in FIGURE 8.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 9, the wire 72 travels to the lower side of the breast roll 73 from a lower turning roll 74 which is sealed below the Water level L in the pit 75, and the upward run 72a of the wire 72 is between the walls 76 and 77 which are associated with the save-all '73 and which form a barometric seal between the atmosphere and the vacuum prevailing entirely around the breast roll 73. Wall '76 is also fastened to an adjacent substantially vertical wall of the inlet 79. In this manner a vacuum seal connection is made between the breast roll 73 and the save-all 78, although the breast roll 73 is an open faced roll (having substantially the structure of the open faced table roll 63 of FIGURE 8 with respect to the solid portions at either end thereof for use in effecting a sealing engagement).

An enclosed pressure type inlet 79 and slice 8% is used to bring the stock into contact with the wire 72 near the point x, from which the stock flows upwardly and over the top of the breast roll 73, and dewatering of the stock takes place from the point x on over the breast roll '73 and throughout the remainder of the suction area which is terminated at the second deflector means 67'.

One of the principal differences between the arrangements of FIGURES 8 and 9 resides in the use of the open faced breast roll 73 of FIGURE 9 as contrasted to the solid breast roll 62 of FIGURE 8. It will be appreciated that there is an additional cooperation between the elements of the instant arrangement if a solid breast roll is employed, because there is a vacuum pumping effect resulting from the separation of the solid breast roll from the underside of the wire.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, it will be seen that there are a plurality of open faced rolls 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 comprising the forming part of a forming table near the middle of the table. Plain table rolls 86 and 87 are also shown at opposite ends of the instant forming section. A first save-all 88 having an exhaust duct 39 is suitably connected by sealing means 9t to the first solid table roll $6 and is also connected by a flexible sealing joint 91 to the deflector means 92 positioned between the open faced rolls $52 and 83. A deflector means 93 is also positioned between the first two open faced rolls SI and 82, and this deflector means 93 functions substantially as the deflection means 66 of FIGURE 8 functions; whereas the deflector means 92 of FIGURE 6 functions in the same manner that the deflector means 67 of FIGURE 8 functions. In this way, a first suction area A extends from the table roll 86 to the deflector means 92.

A second suction area A is defined by the save-all 94 with exhaust duct 95 sealingly engaging the deflector means 92 with a resilient sealing strip 91 and sealingly engaging deflector means 96 (between the rolls (i4 and 95) by means of a resilient strip 97. The deflector means 9% functions in the same manner that the deflector means )2 functions and an intermediate deflector means 98 (between the rolls 83 and 54) functions in the same manner that the intermediate deflector means 93 functions. The advantage of having separate vacuum areas A and A is that different pressure differentials across the wire 99 may be maintained to two different areas. Thus it may be particularly advantageous to employ a reasonably high vacuum at the area A and a substantially lower vacuum at the area A In like manner, a third suction area A is formed, and this suction area differs from the other two in that it includes only a single open faced roll 85. The suction area A is defined by the save-all Idi? with exhaust duct 1M and resilient sealing strips 97 and 102 contacting deflector means 96 and 163 respectively.

Another particularly advantageous aspect of the embodiment of FIGURE 6 resides in the positioning of a dandy roll I494 in connection with the operation of this arrangement. As shown in FIGURE 6, the dandy roll 1M engages the oncoming side of the third open faced roll 83 and the dandy roll function is particularly effective in this arrangement because it involves the contacting of an appreciable length of the wire run 99, and the amount of vacuum in the vacuum section A may be so adjusted as to effectively withdraw water from the web passing between the dandy roll 1'04- and the open faced roll 83 so as to control the amount of excess water present to avoid throwing free water on the leading side of the dandy roll res. Since the wire 99 is partially deflected at the point of engagement with the dandy roll I04 additional engagement therebetween is effected (as contrasted to engagement of a perfectly flat wire) and the removal of water at the point of contact between the dandy roll and the open faced roll 83 materially assists in controlling the tendency to throw free water on the outgoing side of the dandy roll M94.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 7, a complete Fourdrinier table is employed, extending from the breast roll MP5 to the suction control 1%, and having open faced table rolls I437, 1&8, I09, I10, I11, 112, I13 and H4 positioned in succession therebetween. The wire travels around the breast roll res and over the tops of the rolls IQLII I, inclusive, and is trained around the couch roll 1%. The stock is initially flowed from the head box 116 onto the top portion of the breast roll 105. The arrangement of FIGURE 7 is advantageous first in that it provides for a plurality of separate and distinct suc tion areas A A A and A and also in that it provides for the formation of a multi-layer web. As will be appreciated, the suction areas A; through A are defined by the save-all and sealing means shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 7 and described in detail in connection with the previously disclosed figures. A different vacuum may be maintained in each of these suction areas. Also, deflector means 117 through are positioned so that there is one deflector means or unit between each of the rolls in the table. The function and operation of such deflector means have also been discussed in detail in connection with the previously disclosed embodiments of the invention and need not be further discussed here. In the operation of the embodiment of FIGURE 7, the stock flows from the head box 116 over the top of the breast roll M5 so as to form the first or lower layer of the web on the forming wire 115. Then as the web passes beyond the first suction area A (whereat it is sufliciently dewatered) the web passes under a second stock inlet 126 positioned directly over the open faced roll 109 (which will not function as an open faced breast roll) and the stock flows from the inlet 126 onto the initially formed lower layer of the web which travels on the wire 115. A two-layer web is thus formed and this web is substantially dewatered in the suction area A After this two-layer web has passed from the suction area A to the suction area A a third layer of web is formed thereon by flowing stock from the third stock inlet 127 over the top of the open faced roll 111 in the suction area A Additional dewatering is accomplished in the fourth suction area A whereat different vacuum conditions may be employed.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 10, it is seen that a forming wire 210 is trained over a breast roll 211 and a table roll 2.12 spaced down-wire from the breast roll.

The breast roll structure is of the open construction type similar to open roll constructions or cylinder mold construction. For example, the open face would comprise a covering wire carried on spaced winding wire or spaced metal tape wound on edge, the latter being supported by conventional cross rods or cross members of extruded shape. The entire breast roll would preferably be carried on a heavy cross shaft to minimize deflection. As seen in FIGURE 16, the ends of the breast roll are fitted with rings to give a solid face at 211a, so that the edge of the running wire 210 will rest on this solid face, whereas the center portion of the wire 210 will rest on the open faced part Zillb of the breast roll, which open face generally agrees in cross machine dimension with the width of the slice member. Thus, it is seen that the solid face ends of the breast roll serve to seal the ends of the open face portion of the roll.

Depending upon operating conditions for the forming machine, the structure of the table roll 212 may be solid, dandy type or grooved. While only one table roll is shown in FIGURE 9, it will be understood that any number may be employed which is suitable for the operating conditions.

The dilute stock is fed onto the upturning side of the breast roll 211 by a conventional slice arrangement which includes an upstanding supporting member 213, an apron 21 i secured at the upper end thereto and in overlying relationship to the breast roll 211, and a slice 215 coacting with the apron to define a slice opening 216 through which the dilute stock is fed onto the breast roll 211.

To accelerate dewatering of the stock and to permit higher operational speeds to be attained with the forming machine, the entire open volume of the breast roll and a portion of the forming wire leaving the breast roll is subjected to a pressure differential. The pressure differential (in this instance a vacuum) is being created through a save-all 217 having an exhaust duct 218 which is located at the bottom of the assembly.

The save-all is sealed at the upturning side of the breast roll 211 by cross machine members 219 and 220 which are adjustably mounted and spaced on either side of the oncoming run of the forming wire are. The member 21? is supported by and sealed to the bottom member of the enclosed portion of the save-all, and the member 22-1 is correspondingly associated with the slice support 213. Thus, an adjustable gap is provided through which the wire 210 enters the space surrounding the breast roll 211 which serves to minimize air leakage into the save-all area. The other side of the save-all is vacuum sealed to the underside of the forming wire 21% at the leaving side of the breast roll 211 by a deflector 221 having a deflector lip 221a in close proximity thereto but not in contact with the wire. The deflector is adjustably mounted and a flexible connection 222 seals the deflector to the upper wall of the enclosed part of the save-all 217. Any heavy contact between the deflector lip 221a and the forming wire 21% is avoided in order to reduce wear of the wire.

In the space between the breast roll 211 and the deflector 221, side sealing means is provided at the opposite lateral edges of the wire to minimize air leakage into the space surrounding the breast roll. As seen most clearly in FIGURE 16, these side sealing means which may be generally designated by the numeral 223 include upright side members 224 of the forming unit, angled members 225 secured to the inside of the upright members, and replaceable top surfaces 226 of Micarta or similar material which support in underlying relationship the forming wire 211?. These side seals are adjustable as to elevation and angle so that the top surface of the deflector lip 221a is set generally parallel to the run of the wire 210 in operation, but spaced definitely below the wire level and out of contact. Actually, the deflector lip 221a is spaced from the underside of the wire Zlltl to permit an air flow over the top thereof. Thus, that part of the breast roll and forming wire running between the forward edge of the slice apron 214 and the deflector 221 is constantly under a vacuum.

The sealing means between the upstanding former walls 22 and the end portions of the breast roll would be of a conventional arrangement such as wherein a circular sealing ring of Micarta, rubber or similar material would be held against the rotating end of the breast roll by an air tube, with the ring and the tube being carried in a recess in the support 22 and the contact between the ring and the end of the breast roll would be water lubricated.

As soon as dilute stock contacts the wire on the breast roll upon leaving the slice opening 216, drainage of water is effected through the wire and breast roll in a manner similar to that in conventional cylinder mold arrangements. Dewatering of the stoclr on the forming wire continues throughout the portion of the forming wire effected by the vacuum, and the water leaving the stock through the forming wire after it has left the breast roll is caught and deflected downwardly by the deflector 2-21 and into the save-all 217. Since the deflector lip 221a is not in running contact with the underside of the forming wire 210, at high speeds, water would carry over the top of the deflector against incoming air flow. To prevent this water from contacting the upwardly moving face of the table roll 212 and being carried back upwardly through the running water to disturb the forming of the sheet or web thereon, a second deflector 227 is positioned immediately ahead of the table roll 212 to catch that water and deflect it downwardly away from the table roll surface thereby preventing the water from being carried upwardly through the running wire by the table roll. In this embodiment, the forming wire running down-wire from the deflector 2.21 is open to atmospheric pressure. For some types of operation, the deflector 227 would be adjusted to lightly contact the running wire 210, so that all of the water is removed from the underside thereof. Of course, this deflector may be spaced away from the underside of the wire in line with ordinary practices for setting such deflectors. It will be understood that the deflector 227 is also adjustably .iounted as is the deflector 22f.

Suitable connections would be made into the enclosed part of the save-all 217 for the purpose of withdrawing the white water and the inleaking air which would be delivered separately or together to enclosed means for separating the air and water, wherein the water would generally drain by gravity to a Fourdrinier pit located below the running Wire. The air would pass to a suction device, which could be of the centrifugal or fan type for lower degrees of vacuum in the forming space or of the vacuum pump type for the higher degrees of vacuum. Generally, low degrees of negative pressure would provide adequate drainage for the proper formation of the sheet, although this would vary With the basic weight and character of the stock, and speed of the machine.

in the present invention, it is possible to handle varying percentages of water associated with the stock as it is discharged from the slice, depending upon the prevailing paper making requirements. For example, on free sheets of tissue, where experience indicates a pronounced tendency for formation of streaks in the finished sheet if the water remains with the fibers for more than a few inches of travel after leaving the slice, substantially all of the water would be withdrawn from the stock into the structure of the open breast roll almost immediately after the stock flow contacts the moving wire.

Experience with lightweight tissue sheets indicate that, with the free water being removed from the stock flow within a few inches after it has left the slice, the sheet is completely formed and ready for removal of the wire by the time it passes over the first deflector. Thus, for free tissue sheets, the entire forming and dewatering operation may be accomplished between the slice and the first deflector.

On heavier weight sheets, additional drainage and dewatering would be accomplished along the forming wire by use of additional table rolls and well known suction flat box arrangements, suction couch roll arrangements, etc. Under these conditions, the breast roll arrangement of the present invention may be considered as materially augmenting the forming capacity of a Fourdrinier wire, and as accomplishing the original formation of the sheet under favorable conditions. Such action of the vacuum in the breast roll area will prevent jumping of the stock from the Fourdrinier wire.

Alternate arrangements for sealing the oncoming run of the forming wire lit? to the breast roll 211 are illustrated in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13. Referring now to FiuURE 11, the slice supporting member 213 is fitted with an inclined partition 228 which terminates in a position closely spaced from a return wire roll 229 at one end. The upper end of the partition 22% is sealed to the slice support 2T3 at a point substantially in line with the center of the breast roll 211. Coacting with the partition 223, and in spaced relationship therewith is an upstanding wall 230 forming a container around the return wire roll 22.9 in which a water level is maintained at 231, so that the roll 1.29 is operated submersed and with its journals protruding through the side members of this container and being sealed by suitable glands.

The bottom wall of the save-all 217 includes a wall 232 sealed thereto and extending downwardly into the pond and below the water level 231, terminating close to but in spaced relationship from the roll 22%. in this embodiment, the upper wall of the save-ail 217 is sealed to the second deflector 22 7 by a flexible connection 22% thereby defining a larger vacuum forming area along the wire 211i. Side sealing members would he fitted to enclose the space between the wall 23?; and the partition 228, these side sealing members terminating with the end seals around the end of the breast roll and with the slice structure. Thus, an enclosure is provided through which the wire travels from the return roll 229 to the breast roll 211. The wire is guided into the water container and over the top edge of the end wall 239 by a guide roll 233. Negative pressures in the area surrounding the breast roll will result in causing a higher Water level 234 in the enclosure between the partition 22% and the wall 252 during regular operation. Therefore, the wire coming up through this standing column of water to the breast roll 211 will pass through a water seal.

In FIGURE 12, another sealing arrangement is illustrated wherein the forming wire passes from the return roll 229 to the breast roll Zll between a plate on the slice side and a plate ass on the save-all side. The plate 235 extends from its upper end in sealing contact with one wall 237 of a nozzle type slice 233 downwardly to the bottom of the former, while the plate 236 is sealed to the bottom wall of the save-all 217 and extends downwardly in closely spaced relationship to the return roll 229. The plates 2.35 and 236 are fitted with corrugated surfaces or other types of ribbing or baffling, such that the fiow of air from atmosphere to the negative idpressure existing around the breast roll is materially retarded, in line with well known practices for labyrinth seals, and similar arrangements. With the nozzle type slice 23st formation on the open breast roll 21 occurs in part or completely while the flow is under the curved upper section of the slice proper.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FEGURE 13, wherein a nozzle type slice 23% includes an inner wall 23% supported on the upper end of a support ass and an outer wall 223% coacting with the inner wall to define an opening 2.390 which feeds the stock onto the upturning side of the breast roll 211. in this embodiment, the forming wire enters the vacuum area surrounding the breast roll while in contact with a return wire roll 243. This roll is provided with circular end seal parts, similar to those employed on the breast roll, and contacting its end surfaces. A doctor 24-2 contacts the surface of the roll 241, when the face of the roll is not in contact with the wire Zill A sealing tube arrangement 2-43 is carried on the bottom wall of the save-all 217, and serves to hold the doctor 242. in contact with the roll as well as completing the air seal between the roll 241 and the save-all 217. To seal the other side of the roll Zdl against air leakage into the vacuum area, an adjustable transversely extending sealing block 244- is positioned close to but not contacting the wire 2-H? and face of the roll E li. Conventional end sealing members are employed to complete the enclosure, so that the lower part of the evacuated area is bounded by the parts 217, 2.43, 242, 243., 2 and Edit.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 14, wherein an extension of the forming area under negative pressure is arranged to continue accelerated dewatering of the paper web traveling on the forming wire in this arrangement, the second defiector 227 ahead of the first table roll 212 is sealed at its lower end to the upper wall of a second save-a1 217a by a flexible seal 222a, this save-all having an individual outlet or exhaust Elisa. Down wire from the table roll 21?; is positioned a second table roll Zillia, ahead of which is located a second deflector 22% connected to the top wall of the third save-all structure 2172) by a flexible seal 2212, this save-ad structure having its own individual outlet or exhaust Sb. The first deflector 221 in this arrangement is similar to that in the preceding embodiment, and is connected to the first save-all 2i? having its own outlet will be understood that all of the deflectors 221, 22-7 and are adjustably mounted and generally positioned slightly below the underside of the forming wire Zltl to avoid wearing contact therewith. And as in the preceding embodiments, the deflectors 227 and 2275! are ahead of table rolls 2312 and 212a, respectively, to catch deflect downwardly any water being discharged against the upturning side of the table rolls to prevent it from being thrown back into the forming wire and disrupting the paper web thereon. While not shown, any suitable slice arrangement disclosed in PEG- URES 10 to 13 and any suitable sealing arrangement for the oncoming run of the wire to the breast roll may be employed depending on the conditions prevailing.

Hence, it is seen that in the embodiments shown in FIGURE 14, three separate save-all structures, each having a separate outlet for withdrawal of air and water serve to extend the overall dewatering and forming area. Of course, it will be appreciated that more or less table rolls and save-all structures may be provided de pcndin on the operating conditions. Further, it should be understood, in some cases, the table rolls and 21% may be eliminated where adequate support of the forming wire is otherwise accomplished. While each saveall may have the same negative pressure created therein, it may be desirable to vary the negative pressures in the save-alls such as placing successively reduced negative pressures in the spaces ahead of the successive deflectors, so that the air leakage from atmosphere into the last vacuum area will be at a greatly reduced rate. And in some cases, the successive areas between the deflectors may be provided with successively increased negative pressures. Side sealing arrangements, similar to that shown in FIGURES and 16 would be fitted between the breast roll and defiector 221, and between the successive deflectors.

In FIGURE 15, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein the differential pressure created across the breast roll surface and tr e forming wire surface for accelerated dewatering and formation of the paper web is accomplished by subjecting the outside surface or the open breast roll 2111 and the web-carrying side of a forming wire 21b to a positive pressure.

Generaliy, this embodiment is identical with that shown in FIGURE 10 as to the slice arrangement and deflector positions. The flow of stock and water from the slice opening 216 issues onto the Fourdrinier wire 210 carried on the breast roll Bill in a pressurized area bounded by the slice, and overhead cover plate sealed to the movable slice 215 by a rubber tube member 246, and end wall 2.47 extending downwardly from the cover plate and an adjustable gate secured to this end wali, and side Wall members extending upwardly from the former side supports Gther end sealing members extend down to and connect with the end seal members around the ends of the breast roll. The area is pressurized by a connection 25% which is in communication with a centrifugal blower, or other suitably pressurizing means. In operation, the adjustable gate would be positioned downwardly and close to but not touching the formed sheet on the wire or the partially formed sheet, if additional water is not to be removed in the following parts of the table.

In making lightweight sheets of free stock, the foregoing arrangement may provide sufiicient forming capacity, but for heavier Weight sheets, slower moving stock or sheets it here gradual formation is desired, the pressurized area may be extended further down-wire from the breast roll Zilll. In the latter case, the cover member 245 and the side walls 249 may be extended further down-wire such as for example by the distance indicated at 245a. The end wall 247 and the associated gate 243 may be eliminate-d in favor of a downwardly spaced end wall and gate member, as indicated at 247a and 248a in overlying alignment with the top lip of a deflector 221. In this case, the forming area would extend from the slice opening to the deflector lip 221a. An alternative arrangement would constitute retaining both end wall and gate assemblies 247248 and 24761-2480, and providing a separate pressurized connection 25% in the second forming area so that the pressures in the two areas may be adjusted to suit formation conditions with separate regulations for the pressure supplies. While it is shown that the termination of a pressure zone can be over a deflector, it will be understood that, in some cases, the zone may be terminated over a table roll, or at some intermediate point.

For example, the end wall and gate assembly may be positioned over the table roll 212, as indicated at 2471; and 2435, and as the final end wall and gate assembly it may be adjustable to any position desired by the operator for accommodating prevailing sheet making conditions.

The save-all 2117 in this embodiment would be a simple save-all and not be connected to a vacuum source as in the other embodiments. Where the pressurized zone is extended beyond the breast roll center line, end sealing means 223, 223a and 223b, similar to the construction of the sealing means 223 in FIGURE 10 would be provided, and the side walls of the extended pressurized chamber would come down to and seal with the side walls 224 of the former.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an apparatus and method for dewatering and forming a paper web by employing a pressure differential across the forming surface which increases the forming capacity of the ordinary Fourdrinier wire machine, and decreases the wearing of the forming wire.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

This is a continuation-in-part of my applications Serial No. 372,756, filed August 6, 1953, and Serial No. 573,274, filed March 22, 1956, both now abandoned.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a traveling forming wire trained about said breast roll, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, deflector means in close running position beneath said wire and behind said stock inlet and sealing means cooperating with said deflector means and said breast roil to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire.

2. in a web forming machine, a breast roll, a traveling forming wire trained about said breast roll, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, deflector means in close running position beneath said wire and behind said stock inlet and sealing means resiliently urged against opposite sides of said wire between said deflector means and said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire.

3. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a traveling forming wire trained about said breast roll, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, and means cooperating with said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire, said means including a deflector member that is movable selectively in and out of close running relation to the underside of said wire.

4. in a web forming machine, a breast roll, a traveling forming wire trained about said breast roll, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, and means cooperating with said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire, said means including a pair of relatively movable deflector members, one of said members being movable selectively in and out of close running relation to the underside of said wire.

5. in a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, and means between said rolls cooperating with said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire to deflect the wire downwardly into close running relation to said means and to draw water from the stock through the wire.

6. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, and means between said rolls cooperating with said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire to defiect the wire downwardly into close running relation to said means and to draw water from the stock through the wire, said means including a deflector member that is movable selectively in and out of close running relation to the underside of said wire traveling in the horizontal plane.

7. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, and means including a pair of deflector members movable relative to each other one of which is positioned for 17 close running relationship to the wire when said wire is deflected downwardly and the other of which is selectively movable from the position of said one member to close running relation to the underside of said wire when said wire is traveling in the horizontal plane.

8. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, a first deflector member between said rolls and spaced below the horizontal plane, a second deflector member between said rolls and selectively movable from the position of said first member to the horizontal plane and sealing means cooperating with said deflector members and said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire.

9. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, a first deflector member between said rolls and spaced below the horizontal plane, a second deflector member between said rolls and selectively movable from the position of said first member to the horizontal plane and sealing means resiliently urged against opposite sides of the wire for following the Wire during deflection thereof and cooperating with said deflector members and said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire.

10. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a plurality of successive table rolls, a form: ing wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane across the tops of said rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, and means between two of said rolls cooperating with said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire to deflect the wire downwardly into close running relation to said means and to draw water from the stock through the wire.

11. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a plurality of successive table rolls, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane across the tops of said rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes upwardly and over the top of said breast roll, deflector means positioned between said rolls in close running relationship with the underside of the wire, and sealing means cooperating with said deflector means and said stock inlet to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending from the breast roll to said deflector means which define one boundary of the suction area.

12. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a plurality of successive table rolls, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane across the tops of said rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, deflector means positioned ahead of each of said table rolls in close running relationship with the underside of the wire, and sealing means cooperating with said breast roll and each of said deflector means to define successive suction areas on the underside of the wire.

13. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a plurality of successive table rolls, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane across the tops of said rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, deflector means positioned ahead of each of said table rolls in close running relationship with the underside of the wire, sealing means cooperating with said breast roll and each of said deflector means to define successive suction areas on the underside of the wire, and a plurality of independent exhaust means each connected to different suction areas and each connected to at least 18 one suction area, whereby said exhaust means may maintain different reduced pressures at diiferent suction areas.

14. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a plurality of successive table rolls mounted after said. breast, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane across the tops of said rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, a plurality of deflector means each mounted directly behind one of said rolls and ahead of the next of said rolls in close running relation to the underside of the wire, sealing means cooperating with opposite sides of the wire, the breast roll and said deflector means to define a plurality of successive suction areas on the underside of the wire, and exhaust conduit means connected with the breast roll and one of said deflector means behind a table roll to effectively reduce the pressure at the suction areas therebetween.

15. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a plurality of successive table rolls mounted after said breast, a forming wire normally traveling in a substantially horizontal plane across the tops of said rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes over the top of said breast roll, a plurality of deflector means each mounted directly behind one of said rolls and ahead of the next of said rolls in close running relation to the underside of the wire, sealing means cooperating with opposite sides of the wire, the breast roll and said deflector means to define a plurality of successive suction areas on the underside of the wire, and a plurality of separable exhaust conduit means each communicating with at least two successive suction areas.

16. In a web forming machine an open faced table roll, a traveling forming wire trained thereover for carrying a paper web, a dandy roll above said table roll and cooperating therewith to engage the web on said wire near the top of said table roll, and means cooperating with the underside of the wire on both sides of said table roll defining a suction area therebetween for dewatering the web during engagement of the dandy roll therewith and to deflect the Wire downwardly into close running relation to said means.

17. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a forming wire normally traveling up over the breast roll and then in a horizontal plane, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes upwardly along and over the top of said breast roll, deflector means in close running position beneath said wire and behind said stock inlet, and sealing means cooperating with said deflector means and said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire extending behind said breast roll for drawing water from the stock discharging onto the wire.

18. In a web forming machine, a breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire normally traveling up over the breast roll and then in a substantially horizontal plane between said breast and table rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire as it passes upwardly along and over the top of said breast roll, and means between said rolls cooperating with said breast roll to define a suction area on the underside of the wire to deflect the wire downwardly into close running relation to said means and to draw water from the stock through the wire.

19. In a web forming machine, an open breast roll, a traveling forming wire trained over said roll for carrying a paper web, deflector means in close running position beneath said wire and spaced down-wire from the breast roll, and suction means connected to said deflector means and arranged outside said breast roll cooperating with said wire on both sides of said breast roll to define a pressure differential area therebetween for dewatering and forming said web.

20. A web forming machine which comprises a foramlnous breast roll, a forming wire trained over said breast roll, means for feeding dilute stock onto the forming wire at the breast roll, deflector means in close running s, or 2,, 1 e1,

19;. position beneath said wire and spaced down-wire from the breast roll, and suction means connected to said deflector means and assembled outside of said breast roll for creating apressure diflerential across the breast roll.

surfacefor dewateringand forming a web thereon.

21-. A web forming machine which comprises an. open face breast roll, a. forming wire trained over said roll; means fordelivering dilute stock to said. wireat-the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and wire, means for sealingly connecting one side of the save-allto the run of the wire coming on to the breast roll and the other side to the Web-carrying run, and a vacuum means assembled exteriorly of said breast roll for creating a-vacuum in said save-all and a pressure differential across the breast roll surface for dewatering and forming a web thereon.

22. A web forming machine which comprises an open face breast roll, a forming wire trained over said roll, means for delivering dilute stock to said wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and wire, deflector means in close running position beneath said wire and spaced down-wire from the breast roll, and suction means connected to said deflector means and outside of said roll for subjecting the web and wire carrying surface of said breast roll to a positive pressure and said save-all to a degree of vacuum.

23. A'web forming machine which comprises an open face breast roll, a forming wire trained over said breast roll, means for delivering dilute stock to said wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and wire, deflector means in close running position beneath said wire and spaced down-wire from the breast roll, said deflector means. beingconnected to one side of the save-all, means for sealingly connecting the other side of the save all to the wire run coming onto the breast roll, and means connected to a vacuum source outside said breast roll for creatinga vacuum in said save-all and a pressure differential across the breast roll surface and the wire running to the deflector means for dewatering and forming the paper web.

24. A web forming machine which comprises an open face breast roll, a forming wire trained over said breast roll, means for delivering dilute stock to said: wire at the breast roll a save-all; below the breast roll and wire, deflector means in close running position beneath said wire; and spaced down-wire from the breast roll, said deflector means being connected to one side of the save-all, means for sealingly connecting the other side of the saveall to the wire run coming onto the breast roll, and means connected to a vacuum source exteriorly of said breast rollfor creating a vacuum in the save-all to dewater and form the web between the stock delivering means and the deflector means.

25'. A web forming machine which comprises an open face breast roll, a forming wire trained over said breast roll; means for delivering dilute stock to said wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and wire, adjustable deflector means in close running position beneath said wire and spaced down-wire from the breast roll; said deflector means being flexibly connected to one side of the save-all, means for sealingly connecting the other side of the save-all to the wire run coming onto the breast roll, and means connected to a vacuum source exteriorly of said roll for creating apressure differential across the breast roll surface and the wire running to the deflector means for dewatering and forming the paper web.

In a Web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire trained over said rolls and normally traveling in a horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the Wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and wire, a first deflector in close running position beneath the wire and spaced down-wire from said breast roll, said deflector being connected to one ide f d a l.

27. In a web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table roll, a formingwitre trained over said rolls.

and normally traveling in a horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll. and, wire, a. first deflector in closerrunning position beneath the wire. and spaced down-wire from said breast. roll, said deflector being connected to one side of. said saveeall, means sealingly connecting the. other side of the save all to the run ofthe wire traveling to the breast roll, means exterio-rly of. said. roll for creating a vacuum in said save-all to develop a vacuum dewatering' and. forming area on the breast roll and forming'wire be tween the stockv inlet and said first deflector, and a. second deflector beneath the wire and, up-wire from. the table roll for preventing water from being. thrown against the upgoing side. thereof.

28. In a web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table. roll, a. formingwire trained over said. rolls and normally traveling. in a horizontal plane therebetween, a stock. inlet. for discharging. dilute stock onto the forming wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and forming. wire, a first. deflector adjustably positioned in close running. relation to the underside of the wire and down-wire from said breast roll, said first deflector being sealinglyv connected to. one side of the save-all, a second. deflector close run-- ning relation to the underside of. the wire andup-wire from said. tableroll. for. preventing free. water from. being, thrown upwardly into. the underside of the wire by the tip-turning sideof said table roll, means sealingly con necting the other side of the save-all tothe run of the: wire traveling to. the breast, roll, and, means, exteriorly of said breast roll for creating a pressurediflerentiali across the forming Wire and breastroll between said:

first deflector and said sealing means.

29. ln a web forming machine, an open. face breast. roll, a table roll, a forming wire trained over said rolls and normally traveling in a horizontal plane thcrebe; tween, a stock inlet" for discharging dilute stock onto" the forming wire at, the'breast roll, a save-all below the: breast roll and forming wire, a first deflector adjustably' positioned in close running. relation to the underside of. the wire and down-wire from said breast roll, said first:

deflector being sealingly connected to one side of the save-all, a second deflector in close running relation to the underside of the wire and up-wire from said table. roll for preventing free water from being thrown up-.-

wardly into the undersideof the wire by thenp-turning side or said table roll, means sealingly connecting the other side of the save-all to. the run of the wire travel-- ing to the breast roll, said sealing means including crossmachine members adjustably mounted and spaced on.

both sides of said wire run traveling to the breast r ll, and means for creating a pressure diflferential across the forming wire and breast roll between said first de-- flector and said sealing means.

30. In a web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire trained'over said rolls and normally traveling in a horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet for discharging dilute stock onto the flowing wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and forming wire, a first deflector adjustably positioned in close running relation to the underside of the wire and down-wire from said breast roll, said first deflector being sealingly connected to one side ofthe save-all, a second deflector in close running relation to the underside of the wire and up-wire from said table I011 for preventing free water from being thrown upwardly into the underside of the wire by the up turning side of said table roll, said second deflector be ing sealingly connected to a second save-all assembled above the first save-all, means sealingly connecting the other side of the save-all to the run of the wire traveling to the breast roll, said sealing means forming a passage which can hold a standing column of water through which the wire run may travel to the breast roll, and

suction means outside said breast roll for creating a pressure differential across the forming wire and breast roll between said first deflector and said sealing means.

31. In a web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire trained over said rolls and normally traveling in a horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet for discharging dilute stock onto the flowing wire at the breast roll, a first save-all below the breast roll and forming wire, a first deflector adjustably positioned in close running relation to the underside of the wire and down-wire from said breast roll, said first deflector being sealingly connected to one side of the said first save-all, a second deflector in close running relation to the underside of the wire and up-wire from said table roll for preventing free water from being thrown upwardly into the underside of the wire by the up-turning side of said table roll, said second deflector being sealingly connected to a second save-all assembled upon said first save-all, means sealingly connecting the other side of the first save-all to the run of the wire traveling to the breast roll, said sealing means including labyrinth sealing members on both sides of said wire run traveling to the breast roll, and suction means outside said breast roll for creating a pressure differential across the forming wire and breast roll between said first deflector and said sealing means.

32. In a web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire trained over said rolls and normally traveling in a horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet for discharging dilute stock onto the forming wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and forming wire, a first deflector adjustably posi tioned in close running relation to the underside of the wire and down-wire from said breast roll, said first deflector being sealingly connected to one side of the saveall, a second deflector in close running relation to the underside of the wire and up-wire from said table roll for preventing free water from being thrown upwardly into the underside of the wire by the up-turning side of said table roll, means sealingly connecting the other side of the save-all to the run of the wire traveling to the breast roll, said sealing means including a wire return roll having the forming wire trained thereover and defining an unsupported draw traveling to said breast roll, a sealing tube completing an air seal between the return roll and the save-all, and means for creating a pressure differential across the forming wire and breast roll between said first deflector and said sealing means.

33. In a web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table roll, a plurality of successive table rolls, a forming wire trained about said breast roll and over said table rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire at the breast roll, a plurality of deflector means positioned with one ahead of each of the table rolls in close running relationship with the underside of the wire, a plurality of save-alls, below the wire, each deflector sealingly connected to a separate save-all, each save-all having its own air outlet connected with a source of vacuum of variable degree, sealing means cooperating with the wire run traveling to the breast roll and each of the deflector means to define successive forming areas between the breast roll and the forming wire, whereby said save-all and the pressure creating means may maintain different pressure differentials at different forming areas.

34. In a web forming machine, an open face breast roll, a table roll, a plurality of successive table rolls, a forming wire trained about said breast roll and over said table rolls, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire at the breast roll, a save-all below said breast roll and wire, a first deflector in close running relationship with the underside of the wire and spaced down-wire, a second save-all positioned above said first save-all, a plurality of other deflector means positioned ahead of each of the table rolls in close running relationship with the underside of the wire, a separate save-all assembled with each deflector, sealing means coacting with the wire run traveling to the breast roll and each of the deflector means to define successive forming areas along the breast roll and forming wire, and a plurality of independent variable suction means each connected to a different save-all and forming area, whereby said suction means may be varied to maintain ditferent reduced pressures at different forming areas.

35. In a web forming machine,.an open face breast roll, a table roll, a forming wire trained over said rolls and normally traveling in a horizontal plane therebetween, a stock inlet discharging onto the wire at the breast roll, a save-all below the breast roll and wire, a first deflector in close running position beneath the wire and spaced down-wire from said breast roll and sealed to said save-all, a second deflector beneath the wire and upwire from the table roll for preventing water from being thrown against the upgoing side thereof, a second save-all positioned above said first save-all, said second deflector being connected to one side of said second save-all, means sealingly connecting the other side of said first save-all to the run or" the wire traveling to the breast roll, and means connected with a source of vacuum outside said breast roll for creating a vacuum in said first and second save-alls to develop a vacuum dewatering and forming area on the breast roll and forming wire between the stock inlet and said second deflector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,163,251 Millspaugh Dec. 7, 1915 1,534,620 Wagner et a1 Apr. 21, 1925 1,781,928 Liebech Nov. 18, 1930 1,817,594 Wagner et al Aug. 4, 1931 1,924,154 Engert et al Aug. 29, 1933 1,928,286 Germanson Sept. 26, 1933 1,953,060 Berry Apr. 3, 1934 2,162,097 Metcalf June 13, 1939 2,225,435 Kellett et al Dec. 17, 1940 2,345,647 Witham Apr. 4, 1944 2,473,069 Niks June 14, 1949 2,666,370 Bachus Jan. 19, 1954 2,756,650 Lee July 31, 1956 2,858,746 Goodwillie Nov. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 517,661 Germany Feb. 6, 1931 604,565 Germany Oct. 23, 1934 746,726 Germany Aug. 31, 1944 

4. IN A WEB FORMING MACHINE, A BREAST ROLL, A TRAVELING FORMING WIRE TRAINED ABOUT SAID BREAST ROLL, A STOCK INLET DISCHARGING ONTO THE WIRE AS IT PASSES OVER THE TOP OF SAID BREAST ROLL, AND MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID BREAST ROLL TO DEFINE A SUCTION AREA ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE WIRE EXTENDING BEHIND SAID BREAST ROLL FOR DRAWING WATER FROM THE STOCK DISCHARGING ONTO THE WIRE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE DEFLECTOR MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE SELECTIVELY IN AND OUT OF CLOSE RUNNING RELATION TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID WIRE. 